The Grand Harbor Golf Club was bursting with friends on a mission last Monday night at Answer to Cancer, raising funds to make life a little easier for local residents dealing with the devastating disease. The fundraiser was formed 11 years ago by a group of Grand Harbor residents who had each been touched by cancer in one way or another. It has been co-chaired by Carole Plante and Don Casey since its inception.
Rainfall has plagued the golf tournament portion of the event in years past, but this time the weather was blustery yet beautiful, enticing roughly 200 golfers out to the links of the Grand Harbor courses. Another 50 guests joined them later for a bountiful buffet dinner, silent auction, raffles and camaraderie.
Spring-colored Luminaria lined the driveway and had also been placed as centerpieces on the tables in remembrance of loved ones, reinforcing the importance of the mission. As guests mingled over cocktails and scrutinized more than 100 silent auction items amassed by the committee, some attendees purchased chances to wonderful raffle items, including a grand prize donated by Grand Harbor of tickets to all of the club’s major events.
“We will have raised more than $500,000, which is a lot of money for us,” said Plante of the cumulative amount raised.
“We’re a tiny little group of 11 volunteers. The things we have done for the cancer center over the years have been amazing.”
Money has been donated to fund a variety of projects and equipment through the Indian River Medical Center Foundation to what is now the Scully-Welch Cancer Center. This year they are working with the hospital to fund DigniCaps – aka ice caps – which cool the hair follicles of patients undergoing chemo infusion so that they do not lose their hair.
“There’s none north of Stuart. We want to bring it to the Scully Welsh Cancer Center,” said Plante. She learned of the process through her daughter, who received DigniCaps treatment in Maryland and was able to save her hair.
“Now we’re raising money so that others will not lose their hair,” said Plante. She read a touching letter from her daughter, who stressed the enormous uplifting benefit of maintaining dignity and one’s outward appearance.
“What is interesting is that there are people in this room right now who are being treated for cancer in our cancer center. It takes a lot to do this,” said Don Casey, watching as wife Carole dashed about the room ensuring that everything was running smoothly.
“But what really makes this tick is you have people who have been touched with cancer who come together to recognize some who haven’t made it and celebrate those people who did make it. There’s a great deal of emotional energy. Last year we donated $86,000 toward the True Beam Linear Accelerator, one of only four in the state. There’s a dream; there’s also the reality of the cancer center operating and doing the things that need to be done day in and day out.”
“It’s always such a privilege to come here for Answer to Cancer,” said Indian River Medical Center Foundation president Jan Donlan, adding that cancer is the No. 1 killer in Indian River County. “It is a joy to be a part of this event and see all of your grassroots efforts.”
